GPAC BY-LAWS (October 2013 Edition)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GPAC BY-LAWS (October 2013 Edition) ARTICLE I GENERAL POLICIES Section I. CONTROL OF ATHLETIC PROGRAM. 1. The members of the conference unanimously agree to maintain faculty control of all intercollegiate sports with a high standard of personal honor, eligibility and fair play. 2. The members shall strive in non-conference play to compete with schools having similar educational and athletic policies. Section II. ADMISSION STANDARDS. Athletes and non-athletes shall be admitted to the institution under the same admissions standards. All students shall be enrolled through the regular procedure established by the institution. Section III. SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS-IN-AID, AND STUDENT LOANS. The following by-laws have been adopted to formalize the GPAC regulations concerning financial aid. Regardless of GPAC financial aid by-laws, no member institution may award financial aid that is in violation of NAIA limits. 1. Assignment of scholarships, grants, student loans and work shall be controlled at each member institution in compliance with the guidelines and practices of the respective member institution. 2. Any financial aid or assistance to prospective or enrolled student-athletes in money or in kinds, except that which comes from members of their immediate family or from those upon whom they are legally dependent , shall be administered by the institution in compliance with the guidelines and practices of the respective member institution. 3. Non-Athletic Scholarships, grants, student loans and work shall be awarded on such basis as will not discriminate in favor of presumed or recognized athletes. Athletes and non-athletes shall be required to maintain the same minimum academic standing to qualify for such scholarships, grants, student loans and/or work. 4. All donations to a member institution’s athletic scholarship program by an outside organization shall be deposited in an institutional fund and administered in compliance with the guidelines and practices of the respective member institution. October 2013 GPAC By-Laws (Blue) Page 1 of 15 5. A member institution of the Great Plains Athletic Conference shall award no more institutional scholarships and/or grants to the student-athlete than the actual cost of tuition at that school. Institutional scholarships and/or grants are defined as funds originating from college sources (including tuition remission and tuition exchange awards) and excludes any scholarships and/or grants received from federal and/or state sources based on need and “private” scholarships. 6. Private Scholarships are defined as scholarships from non-college sources (e.g.: churches and local civic organizations), awarded to specific student- athletes. In order to be excluded from the full-tuition limit, these awards must not be college-specific, but must be available to the student athlete no matter where they choose to attend college. 7. Any Great Plains Athletic Conference member awarding Academic Scholarships in excess of full tuition must, on an annual basis, request an exception from the Executive Committee in consultation with the Conference Commissioner. 8. Any Great Plains Athletic Conference member awarding institutionally- funded loans to student-athletes must have a properly executed, signed promissory note outlining repayment terms. No “forgivable” institutional loans may be made to student athletes if, when added to institutional scholarships and/or grants awarded the student-athlete, the total exceeds the actual cost of tuition at that member school. 9. Any Great Plains Athletic Conference member may award institutional, state or federally funded work to a student-athlete, in an amount not to exceed $1,500 over the cost of tuition, providing that school awards the work in the same manner and at the same rate of pay as work assigned to non-athletes. 10. Students paid on an hourly basis will have a timesheet signed by both the student and the student’s supervisor indicating that the student worked the hours indicated and that the work was performed in a satisfactory manner. 11. Student-athletes paid a salary/stipend as opposed to an hourly rate (e.g.: Resident Assistants) shall be selected in the same manner and paid at the same rate as non-athletes. Since signed time-sheets are not completed for these individuals, Athletic Department personnel will not be involved in their selection. 12. In case of complaints, a statement of financial aid awarded to any particular student-athlete including all scholarships, grants, loans and/or work shall be made available to the Conference Commissioner upon his October 2013 GPAC By-Laws (Blue) Page 2 of 15 written request to the Chief Executive Officer. A note indicating this information has been made available to the Chief Executive Officer shall be placed in the student’s file in the Financial Aid Office. Section IV. CAMPUS VISITATION AND RECRUITMENT OF PROSPECTIVE STUDENT ATHLETES. No part of the travel expense of prospective student athletes making visitation to the institution shall be paid by either the institution itself nor any individual or organization directly in support of the program unless such practice by a part of the general institutional policy in procurement of all students and not alone in securing athletes. ARTICLE II ELIGIBILITY Section I. Persons competing in men’s and women’s sports will be governed by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Official Handbook. Section II. Exception to Section I is as follows: 1. A student who has attended, and been certified, at one conference school is not eligible to participate in any sport for a second conference school for one calendar year from the end of the term certified. Exceptions: a. In those cases where a student is attending a school and the school drops a sport, the student may transfers within the first two (2) terms after the school announces the discontinuance of that sport. The transfer restriction will be waived for the student in that sport. b. If a student has not been certified in any sport at the school from which they transfer, and they receive a release from the athletic director at that school, this restriction will be waived. 2. The student athlete needs to maintain a minimum grade point average as follows: a. Freshmen beyond first term of attendance, a 1.5000. b. Students beyond the second term of attendance, a 1.7500. c. Juniors, a 2.0000. d. Seniors, a 2.0000. ARTICLE III. GENERAL REGULATIONS Section I. ELIGIBILITY STATEMENTS. 1. An NAIA Official Eligibility Certificate signed by the registrar, athletics director, coach, and faculty athletics representative of each institution is to be postmarked to the conference eligibility chair prior to participation. The cumulative grade point average for each student athlete in their second term or later shall appear on the eligibility certificates. October 2013 GPAC By-Laws (Blue) Page 3 of 15 2. In accordance with NAIA rules, institutions that sponsor sports that carry over from one term to another must submit a completed NAIA Official Eligibility Certificate signed by the registrar, athletics director, and faculty athletics representative of each institution to the conference eligibility chair. The cumulative grade point average for each student athlete in their second term or later shall appear on the eligibility certificates. Section II. CHAMPIONSHIPS. 1. Championships shall be recognized each year in any sport in which at least six of conference schools indicate at the second meeting of the conference that they will participate for the following academic year. 2. Championships in all sports are determined by participation in a conference schedule or conference meet. 3. The championship in all sports shall be decided on the percentage basis. For purposes of calculating percentages, a tie will be counted as one-half game won and one-half game lost. A forfeited game shall be counted in determining conference records and championships. 4. Any game or contest played within the conference in which any part of the Constitution, By-Laws or rules is violated will be arbitrated as specified under Article VII of the Constitution. 5. Cancellation or postponement shall be reported by the host institution to the commissioner as directed by individual sport by-laws. 6. Conference members will submit comprehensive athletic contest results to the conference upon request from the various committees or officers of the conference. 7. For NAIA post-season competition purposed the conference representatives in the postseason competition shall be the highest finishing team(s) or individual(s) in the conference championship play process that has declared its intent to participate in NAIA postseason competition and in accordance with the NAIA postseason qualifying standards for that given sport. Section III. UNIFORMITY AGREEMENTS. 1. It is agreed among the members of the conference that no student shall be awarded no more than one primary award (e.g. watch) for athletic performance during his/her college course. However, additional awards October 2013 GPAC By-Laws (Blue) Page 4 of 15 may be given to graduating senior athletes and a special emblem may be awarded to members of the championship teams. 2. All games and contests within the conference shall be governed by the regular NAIA playing rules. 3. A uniform price rate for regular season games shall be established for all adults and students (with valid school ID). The rate shall be determined by the conference at the last regular conference meeting of the current school year. Such rate to go into effect the following school year. The 2013-2014 uniform rate for adults is $6 and student’s shall be free. The rate shall be communicated to the respective business offices within one week following the last regular meeting. Faculty/staff members and their guest from the visiting colleges are to be admitted without charge at all conference games (excludes playoffs). Bona fide college bands or drum corps and cheerleaders shall be admitted without charge.